Don't sell school land
The Province
March 7, 2008
Letter to Editor By: Jessica Van der Veen, Victoria

Education Minister Shirley Bond insists that school closures are the decision of school districts and says she won't interfere, despite obvious inadequacies in the funding formula.

Citizens have had enough of this government hiding behind arms-length organizations.

The provincial government is constitutionally responsible for universal public education. It must step up and be accountable to children and communities.

The recent throne speech announced universal preschool programs for tens of thousands of children.

There are 140 schools at risk of being sold off across this province. If the premier and the minister are serious about child care, they must secure the space for these preschool programs to be implemented.

The school lands are not ours to sell; they belong to future generations of children.